Candidates file intentions for election

Dozens of local elected positions are among more than 3,000 in the state for which people interested in serving the public filed intentions to seek or keep office last week.

Incumbents in Electric City fared best in primary election filings with no incumbents challenged.

Mayor Gerald “Jerry” Sands will go after his second term, and council members John Nordine II, Bradley Parrish and Lonna Bussert all are unopposed.

In Coulee Dam, three are running for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Quincy Snow is being challenged by F. Gregory Wilder and Shawn Derrick.

In Coulee Dam council races incumbent Robert “Bob” Poch is unchallenged for another four-year term; incumbent Karl Hjorten is being challenged for position 2 by Gayle Swaggerty; and incumbent Andrew Trader is being challenged for a four-year term by Duane Johnson.

In Elmer City the mayor’s race is being challenged. Incumbent Mary Jo Carey is being challenged by Councilmember Gail Morin. In council races in Elmer City, incumbent Jeff DeWinkler is unchallenged for position 1, as is his wife Donna DeWinkler for position 3. Jesse O. Tillman has filed for position 5.

In the Nespelem town elections, Mayor Brian S. Nanamkin is unopposed; Darcy A. Epperson is unchallenged in council position 1, and Kathy M. Womer is unchallenged in council position 4.

In Grand Coulee, the two council members who are running to continue service there are unopposed. Former mayor Tammara Byers, now a council member, is unopposed for a four-year short and long term as is Erin Nielsen, who runs for a two-year unexpired term.

Three positions on the Douglas-Grant-Lincoln-Okanogan Counties Hospital District 6, are being challenged.

Incumbent Kristan Hare is being opposed by Steven (Ray) Clover. Jerry Kennedy, the incumbent, is being challenged by Gerry L. Salstrom. In the third contest, an open position is sought by Betty Brueske and Diane Larson.

All three positions open in the Nespelem School District are being challenged.

P. Jolene Marchand, the incumbent in director district 3 is being opposed by Enid T. Wippel and Dorothy Palmer; in director district 4, longtime school board member Jeannie R. Moon is being opposed by Mitzi L. Adolph. For the director district 5 position, two challengers, Nancy J. Armstrong-Montes and Zekkethal “Val” Vargas, will face off against incumbent Andrew C. Joseph, Jr.

In the Grand Coulee Dam School District, two incumbents, Carla Bierle Marconi and Ken “Butch” Stanger are running unopposed for 4-year terms.

In Okanogan Fire District 2, Raymond R. Green is running unopposed for commissioner position 3, a 6-year term.

And in Grant County Fire District 14, Randy Fischer is running unopposed for a two-year term and Marjorie Sanders is running unopposed in position 3 for a six-year term.

The primary election is Aug. 6, and the general election is Nov. 5.

The overall number of candidate filings throughout the state is 3,805, with 75 of them having later withdrawn. There were 3,308 elected offices open statewide.

Special filing time

A special three-day filing time for positions that were not filed on has been scheduled by the Grant County Election Department, Tuesday, May 28, through Thursday, May 30, from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., the county announced Tuesday.

In Electric City, no one filed for the city council position 1 seat now occupied by Bob Rupe. In Grand Coulee, no one filed for position 2, currently held by Tim Alling. Both are for four-year terms.

In the Coulee Area Park & Recreation District, three positions were not filed on. Position 1, is for a two-year unexpired term; position 4, a four-year term and position 5, a four-year term.

Grant County election officials stated that persons interested in any of the positions can file either online or at the courthouse.